Juleen Rodakowski, OTD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA

  • Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy

Juleen Rodakowski, OTD, MS, OTR/L is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research program examines factors that influence independent living for older adults who are at-risk for disability. Rodakowski primarily focuses on older adults with mood and cognitive changes as well as caregivers of older adults who are themselves vulnerable to poor health and disability.

Representative Publications

Fields F, Rodakowski J, Leighton C, Feiler C, Minnier T, James AE. Including and Training Family Caregivers of Older Adults in Hospital Care: Facilitators and Barriers. J Nurs Care Qual. 2020; 35:88-94. DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000400

Wu CY, Rodakowski J, Terhorst L, Karp JF, Fields B, Skidmore ER. A Scoping Review of Non-Pharmacological Interventions to Reduce Disability in Older Adults. Gerontologist, In press. 2020; 60:e52-e65. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnz026

Rodakowski J, Golias KW, Reynolds CF 3rd, et al. Preventing disability in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A Strategy Training intervention study. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2019; 15. PMCID: PMC6512744 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100368

Rodakowski J, Saghafi E, Butters MA, Skidmore ER. Non-pharmacological interventions for adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and early stage dementia: an updated scoping review. Mol Aspects of Med. 2015; 43:38-53. PMCID: PMC4600436 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2015.06.003

Rodakowski J, Skidmore ER, Reynolds III CF, Dew MA, Butters MA, Holm MB, Lopez OL, Rogers JC. Can performance of daily activities discriminate between older adults with normal cognitive function and those with Mild Cognitive Impairment? J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014; 62:1347-52. PMCID: PMC 4107156

Research Interests

Examining community-based interventions to support aging in place
Aging with a neurodegenerative condition, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment, poses several unique challenges. We elucidate the factors that influence disability for these vulnerable older adults, as well as test interventions that slow decline to disability for this vulnerable population. The goal of this work is to support millions of older adults to age-in-place by allowing older adults with mild cognitive changes to benefit from effective community-based rehabilitation services.

Investigating factors that influence caregivers
Informal caregivers support independent living for their care-recipients by supporting them in activities of daily living. Caregivers are themselves at risk for morbidity and disability, which in turn increases care-recipient disability and rates of institutionalization. We investigate the complexity of the factors that influence caregiver and care-recipient outcomes. This work ensures that caregivers have the adequate knowledge and skills required to support their loved one, as well as themselves. With effective supports, care-recipient disability and rates of institutionalization are decreased, and caregiver morbidity and disability are minimized.

Research Grants